Forearm Supported Scrubber and Sander

ABSTRACT

A scrubbing device designed to provide support for the hand and wrist during use by utilizing an extension onto the forearm.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention

The present invention refers to a device which stabilizes the hand and wrist for more effective scrubbing, cleaning, sanding and the like by utilizing an extension which provides resistance from the arm. An extension from the device is joined to the arm such that the working component is stabilized in the hand while working and when not working.

2. Description of Concurrent Art

Present systems scrub, clean, sand and the like various surfaces using devices held only by a hand. Hand scrubbing techniques are common on tile, ceramic, plastic, granite, counter tops, bathroom surfaces, pools, patios, outdoor grills, sanding plaster, removing or roughening surfaces for painting, furniture and wood finishing, garage floors and the like. Often several materials such as sponges, steel wool, brushes, sandpapers, foam, plastic, metal meshes and the like are used individually, in sequence or together.

There are many automated systems such as motorized machines which roll, vibrate or rotate. These can be hard to control, heavy and expensive limiting them to professional use. Some systems add a handle similar to a broom handle but there is little control during use due to the size and added weight.

It would be desirable use hand controlled scrubbers and sanders to provide controlled scrubbing. Areas where more force is required can be applied while other areas are cleaned, scrubbed or sanded lightly. It would further be desirable to provide additional support for the hand and the wrist during use to avoid fatigue and permanent damage as occurs with carpal tunnel syndrome and to be able to apply more force for more effective work.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The instant apparatus and system, as illustrated herein, is clearly not anticipated, rendered obvious, or even present in any of the prior art mechanisms, either alone or in any combination thereof. The versatile system, method and series of apparatuses for creating and utilizing added support of the hand and wrist by extension onto the arm is described in general and specifics though not every variation is shown. The scrubbing, roughening and sanding device, hereon referred to as the scrubber, secures the device to a person's forearm. The device places and keeps in place, the working end in the hand without the hand physically grabbing and holding it. The hand and forearm simply guide the scrubber or surfaces. In the preferred version, the part of the scrubber in the hand is hinged to the part onto the forearm. The hinge allows for easy movement over surfaces during use as the working end can angle easily. The hinge can be a simple rod and tube or a ball and socket depending on the amount of movement required. Any common type of hinge mechanism can be used though is not required.

The working portion, that portion in the hand, can be a fixed use such as a sponge or sandpaper. In the preferred embodiment, various attachments are used. A sponge is snapped into position for use and is easily removed and replaced by a sandpaper block or steel wool etc. The scrubber can be designed for several uses by simply changing attachments.

In an alternative technique, handles are attached or detached to the working component. In some situations, a person may prefer to have a handle on the top or use both a handle on the top and the forearm extension. The forearm extension and other handles are easily attached or detached depending on the use and personal preference during use.

In the preferred embodiment, the forearm extension is secured to the forearm by materials such as Velcro, snaps, reversible adhesives, interlocking, elastic bands, cloth bands, rope, wire or usual techniques and materials used to join parts together. When the scrubber is secured to the arm, hand muscles are not required to hold the scrubber. The wrist moves in just the direction of the hinge resulting in less adverse forces. The forearm extension can be secured with rubber bands, glove like forms, or the like.

The scrubber can be constructed of any common material or combination of materials such as wood, metal, ceramic, plastic, reinforce fiber or fabrics, air balloons, sponge, abrasives, steel wool, brushes, and other common materials for cleaning, roughening, sandpapering, removing, or the like.

The foregoing has outlined the more pertinent and important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood, and the present contributions to the art may be more fully appreciated. It is of course not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components and/or methodologies, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations or permutations are possible. Accordingly, the novel architecture described below is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the versatile arm supported scrubber system and series of accompanying systems and apparatuses and embodiments in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty, which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be practice and all aspects and equivalents thereof are intended to be within the scope of the claimed subject matter. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages of the present apparatus will be apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments thereof, which description should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Having thus described the system in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a plan view of the top and side of the scrubber.

FIG. 2 illustrates a plan view of various inserts placed into one version of the scrubber.

FIG. 3 illustrates a plan view from the top, side, bottom and in use of one version of the scrubber.

FIG. 4 illustrates a plan view of the top and side of a motorized scrubber.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, scrubber 2 reveals a bottom view of an alternative scrubber. Scrubber 4 is a side view of scrubber 2. Forearm support 6 has Velcro 8 and Velcro 10 which when wrapped around a forearm, not shown, holds scrubber 2 to the arm. Hinge 12 joins forearm support 6 to plate 14 allowing plate 14 to follow a surface easily during function. For example, when sandpaper is placed on plate 14 and moved up and down a wall, the angle between the arm and the wall changes. The hinge allows for easy angle change of plate 14 to forearm support 6 during this sanding motion. Plate 14 is designed to accept materials, be the material, or accept inserts to provide different functions. A sponge, coarse sponge, steel wool, plastic, abrasive blocks, various sandpapers, brushes, and combinations of these or like materials to clean, remove or roughen surfaces is used.

Referring to FIG. 2, an alternative scrubber 20 has plate 30 with attachment forearm support 22, handle 26, alternative handle 28 which are attached at hinge 38,40 or surface 32 of plate 30. Each of these components are attached for use or not attached as preferred by the user. Forearm attachment 23 surrounds a forearm by placing the hand through and out hole 24. In the preferred embodiment, forearm attachment 23 is adjustable to fit securely to a forearm. Alternatively, elastic material, materials that stretch or the like are used. Velcro, interlocking, cinching, or other common methods of tightening a strap or glove can be used. Plate 30 has attachment area 36 to accept attachments. The various attachments are joined by Velcro, snap, friction fit, interlocking, adhesives, or other common methods of joining parts. Attachment 34 

1. A device consisting of a proximal portion and a distal portion; said proximal portion designed to fit onto an arm and a means of securing said proximal portion to an arm; said distal portion fitting into a hand and providing means for a working element.
 2. The device of claim one where said proximal portion is secured with a Velcro strap.
 3. The device of claim one where said proximal portion is secured with a fixed rubber strap.
 4. The device of claim one where said proximal portion is joined to said distal portion with a hinge.
 5. The device of claim one where said proximal portion is detachable from said distal portion.
 6. The device of claim one where said distal portion provides means to secure removable interchangeable working elements.
 7. The device of claim 6 where said removable working element is a sponge.
 8. The device of claim 6 where said removable working element is sandpaper.
 9. The device of claim 6 where said removable working element is steel wool.
 10. The device of claim 6 where said removable working element is a brush.
 11. The device of claim 6 where said removable working element is a combination of materials.
 12. The device of claim 6 where said removable working element is an abrasive block.
 13. The device of claim 1 where said working element is motorized.
 14. The device of claim 6 where said working element is motorized.
 15. The device of claim 6 where said removable working element provides means to attached a separate handle to the top surface. 